Farms take food safety into their own handsScientific American via Yahoo NewsIn an effort to try to reduce outbreaks of foodborne illness, some farmers and manufacturers are instituting new practices, rather than waiting for tougher regulations that may never be enforced anyway. Their motivation: the bottom line.

Tainted Farm Rich foods may have been served in schoolsThe Associated Press via KSDK-TVRich Products Corp. has recalled 10 million pounds of frozen food items over the past two weeks after 27 E. coli illnesses in 15 states were linked to their foods. Of that, the Buffalo, N.Y.-based company estimates about 3 million pounds may still be in the marketplace and approximately 300,000 pounds may have ended up in school lunchrooms.

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Poll: Obama underwater on guns, immigration, deficitPoliticoA new CNN/ORC International poll found President Barack Obama's overall approval rating has ticked up to 51 percent but ratings have fallen on his handling of the key issues on his agenda: immigration, guns and the deficit.

Poll: Mitch McConnell popularity saggingPoliticoSen. Mitch McConnell's popularity continues to stay underwater by double digits, according to a new poll. The senior Kentucky Republican senator has just 36 percent of Kentucky voters approving of his job performance and a majority of 54 percent disapproving, according to a the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling poll released Tuesday.

Democrats' new line of attack: BillboardsThe Wall Street Journal (subscriber story)Drive time got a little more partisan in a handful of congressional seats over the Easter recess. House Democrats rolled out a series of billboards in 10 congressional districts over the past two weeks criticizing incumbent Republicans in each for supporting the GOP budget before Congress left town for the break.

Immigration debate now on ag's turfPoliticoSenate efforts to overhaul immigration law now mainly hinge on a major sector certain to be impacted by the plan: agriculture. After a bitter fight between interest groups late last week, Republican and Democrats are closely monitoring sensitive talks between labor and industry over a new program to woo foreign farm workers.

Obama nominates new NLRB members as House threatens to halt actionsThe Washington PostPresident Barack Obama nominated three candidates for full terms to the National Labor Relations Board Tuesday, urging the Senate to confirm the nominees quickly. The status of the board has been in limbo since the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in January that Obama exceeded his constitutional authority by appointing three of its members while lawmakers were on break in January 2012.

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Baucus moves to reshape tax codeThe Washington PostLast month, Sen. Max Baucus summoned members of the Senate Finance Committee to a closed-door meeting to discuss the first full-scale rewrite of the 5,600-page U.S. tax code in more than 25 years. The task would be gargantuan, and much of Washington has called it impossible in these contentious times.

Editor's Note: AFFI is part of a diverse coalition of food and agriculture associations working to reform federal supports for corn-based ethanol in order to protect food makers and consumers from unnecessary price increases.

FDA releases vulnerability assessment in connection with FSMAU.S. Food and Drug AdministrationFDA is publishing "Analysis of Results for FDA Food Defense Vulnerability Assessments and Identification of Activity Types," a report required under Section 106 of the FSMA. During the past several years, FDA has conducted vulnerability assessments on more than 50 products or processes, leading to the identification of processing steps of highest concern and potential mitigation strategies to reduce vulnerabilities.

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WHO: Trans fat reduction policies are workingFood NavigatorPolicies aimed at reducing intake of trans fat are working to reduce consumption and are likely to have an effect on public health, the World Health Organization has said in a new systematic review.

Proposed FDA safety rules frustrate tree fruit farmersThe Washington PostFew groups have expressed more frustration with FSMA implementation than tree fruit farmers, who grow apples, pears and a variety of other produce. They complain the FDA's approach, in some ways, defies common sense.

Farm Bureau sends farm bill proposal to Capitol HillUSAgNetThe American Farm Bureau Federation is sending a farm bill proposal to Capitol Hill. Approved this weekend by the AFBF Board of Directors, the proposal offers a diverse mix of risk management and safety net tools to benefit a wide range of farms and it saves $23 billion compared to the cost of continuing the current program.

Opinion: Court decision cears path for HFC phaseoutSupermarket NewsLast week, the Supreme Court rejected an effort by oil industry interests to challenge a 2010 regulation on nitrogen-dioxide pollution issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The court's decision not to take the case has implications for the food industry, as well as the country.

Opinion: Ridding schools of fast food, junk food and soda pushersFood Safety NewsMichele Simon writes, "While it's commendable that the federal government is now taking up the issue [of school nutrition], I have some serious concerns about the feasibility of an approach that essentially endorses healthier junk food while allowing corporations continued unfettered access to children in schools."

More parents purchasing organic productsProgressive GrocerU.S. families are embracing organic products in a wide range of categories, with 81 percent now reporting they purchase organic at least sometimes, according to the Organic Trade Association's 2013 U.S. Families Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study.

Corn boom goes bust with US sales in record dropBloombergThe record collapse in U.S. corn exports and shrinking domestic demand are leaving more grain in silos, spurring a bear market just eight months after drought drove prices to an all-time high.

American Chemical Society: Reduce food waste to feed the worldUSAgNetA speaker at the American Chemical Society's 245th National Meeting said this week that families can be key to a revolution needed to feed the world: the reduction of food waste, which now sees 4 of every 10 pounds of food produced in the U.S. ending up in the trash.

The great lure of Indian fast foodThe Wall Street JournalKati rolls are unlikely to dethrone popular fast foods like hamburgers or burritos in the U.S. any time soon, but Indian cuisine is gaining ground.

North American Potato sector struggles with demand dipPotatoProNorth American Potato growers have realized they must take action to improve demand for fresh potatoes, says an industry spokesperson. Otherwise, American and Canadian growers will have to permanently cut acres to accommodate declining demand.

Flowers Foods got $300 million loan for Hostess bread businessBloombergFlowers Foods Inc., a producer of packaged bakery foods, obtained a $300 million loan to help finance its acquisition of Hostess Brands Inc.'s bread business. The "delayed-draw" term loan was arranged with the help of Deutsche Bank AG and Bank of America Corp., Flowers Foods said Monday.

Ecolab reaches consent agreement on Champion acquisitionFood Ingredients FirstEcolab Inc. has entered into a consent agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, which has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. As a result, Ecolab expects to complete the Champion acquisition within the next several days.

Tyson settles plant refrigeration disputeUSAgNetTyson Foods has settled its dispute with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over the maintenance of refrigeration systems at food production plants in four states. As part of the settlement, Tyson has agreed to pay a fine of nearly $4 million and create a special program aimed at meeting Risk Management Plan requirements of the federal Clean Air Act at 23 Tyson Foods facilities in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

Naturex develops system to infuse foods with fruit, vegetable powdersFood Ingredients FirstThanks to unique technology, Naturex is able to meet the expectations of the savory, sweet and baby food industries by offering convenient and tasty fruit and vegetable powders. The group operates a gigantic spray drying facility that can create powders that offer clean label and maintain the organoleptic properties of original, freshly harvested fruits and vegetables.